128 The Natural History of British Game Birds 
a habit never noted amongst our native Partridges — and they have been known to nest 
on the top of hay and corn stacks. In the spring they are pugnacious and fight in the 
same way at pairing-time as our own Partridges ; in fact, all their habits throughout the 
summer seem to be very similar, although they travel about more and walk much 
faster. They have often been accused of fighting and driving off the English birds. 
That the two species attack one another is beyond question, but that they drive off 
and defeat the smaller birds I very much doubt. In fact, all evidence I have been able 
to collect goes to prove the contrary to be the case. Three reliable witnesses have told 
me that in every case in which they have seen the two species in combat the English 
Partridge has been both the aggressor and the victor. Mr. J. Jones, who lives at 
Kelvedon in Essex, says : " I witnessed a desperate encounter in April this year (1907) 
in front of my house. A pair of Red-legs alighted on the grass near a pair of Grey 
Partridges, when the latter, both male and female, at once rose and attacked the 
new-comers. It was not an ordinary fight, but lasted for some minutes, both males and 
females battling with equal determination and making the feathers fly in all directions. 
Eventually both Red-legs were ignominiously defeated, pursued, and hunted out of the 
park by the smaller birds, which returned and took up their station as before." In 
March 1909 I saw a Red-leg come running across a field near my house ; as it 
approached the middle a cock English bird rose and flew at it with evident anger, and 
chased it for some distance, when another cock Common Partridge ran out of a hedge 
and pursued the Frenchman until he left the field. I have no doubt that the English 
Partridge is disturbed more by its own species than by Red-legs. 
I am glad to find confirmation of this in the few notes on the species in the 
Shooting volume of the Badminton Library, which says (pp. 143, 144): — 
"Although in the days of shooting over pointers the 'red-legs' were naturally unpopular 
birds, so much so that their eggs were habitually gathered for the table on some manors in 
Norfolk, their habits render them particularly valuable for driving purposes. Running as they 
do far from the approaching line of men, they are the first to leave the field and pass over 
the guns ; moreover, their running habits cause them to become more scattered and to arrive 
singly rather than in coveys, thereby affording a larger number of shots. Their flight is also 
straighter than that of the grey birds, and they are less apt to lie close or to turn back in 
the face of the beaters. 
"In one respect they are inferior to the indigenous species. They have decidedly less 
powers of endurance. After two or more long flights they are unable to rise again from the 
ground, and are frequently caught by the dogs at the end of a drive. 
"In exceedingly cold weather they seem to become weak or lazy, and may be easily 
approached and shot wherever sufficient cover can be found to hide them. It is not unusual 
in some parts of the eastern counties to find them at this time representing one-half or even 
two-thirds of the total results of a day's driving. The idea that they fight or disturb the other 
birds during the breeding season may be regarded as a popular error. Of the two species 
the grey bird is decidedly the more pugnacious. The nests of both are frequently found in 
close proximity to each other, and their eggs have even been observed in the same nest." 
The call of the male is like the words " chuck-er-ra-kar " and " cluk-cluk-clukar," 
frequently repeated. When running, both males and females utter a sharp " kuk-kuk." 
When the female is calling her chicks together she will keep up a constant cry, for 
half-an-hour at a time, the call being louder and more metallic than at other seasons. 
